The Lion Whisperer

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, October 14, 2010

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

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In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer piggybacks on the back of a lion in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year.Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer piggybacks on the back of a lion in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 2 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer poses with Thor the lion in it's enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year.Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer poses with Thor the lion in it's enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 3 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer shows the size of a lions tongue in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the UnitedStates on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer shows the size of a lions tongue in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 4 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer in front of a lion in it's enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film opening in the United States onFriday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer in front of a lion in it's enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 5 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer sprays his lions with water and citronella in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film openingin the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer sprays his lions with water and citronella in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 6 of 14

In this photo taken Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer wrestles playfully with a lioness in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador oflions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer wrestles playfully with a lioness in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 7 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer snuggles a lioness to his chest in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the UnitedStates on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" andhopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer snuggles a lioness to his chest in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 8 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer with Thor the lion in his enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer with Thor the lion in his enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 9 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer lays with two of his lions in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year.Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions"and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer lays with two of his lions in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 10 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer shows the size of a lions teeth in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film opening in the UnitedStates on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year.Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer shows the size of a lions teeth in an enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 11 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer lays with two of his lions in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" andhopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer lays with two of his lions in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 12 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer lays with two of his lions in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the UnitedStates on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" andhopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer lays with two of his lions in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

Image 13 of 14

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer is wrestled by a lion and lioness in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year. Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador oflions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat. less

In this photo taken Monday Oct. 11, 2010, Kevin Richardson, a.k.a. the Lion Whisperer is wrestled by a lion and lioness in their enclosure at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near ... more

Photo: Denis Farrell, AP

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The Lion Whisperer

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The Lion Whisperer

Kevin Richardson
, also known as "the Lion Whisperer" poses with lion at the Kingdom of the White Lion park in Broederstroom, near Johannesburg, South Africa. A new film opening in the United States on Friday about a rare white lion who escapes becoming a trophy on a wall is a rare happy ending in a country where more than 1,000 lions are killed legally each year.Kevin Richardson, the man behind the movie, calls himself an "ambassador of lions" and hopes the film will act as one too at a time when foreign tourists are willing to pay up to $40,000 to shoot a big cat.

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